Advertising device



Patented Dec. z3, 1930 UNTED sTATEsPATENT oir-Fics LE ROY W. SMITH, 0F ST. LOUIS COUNTY,

MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE MIRROR DIS- PLAY CO., INC., 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, CORPORATION OF MISSOURI ADVERTISING DEVICE Applicationv led May 4, 1928. Seria1` No. 275,006.

4This invention relates to improvements in advertising devices, and consists in the novel construction hereinafter disclosed.

`An object of the invention is to provide .an advertising device having a rectangular frame adapted to have mounted therein a transparent mirror panel' and a changeable advertising display arranged parallel with the mirror, in combination with a housing provided with an illuminating means inter-` mittently operated, whereby the advertising display is visible through the transparent mirror. 4

Additional objects of the construction will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, taken in c onnection which the accompanying -drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation.

Fig; 4 is a vertical section through the device.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing the device is shown as comprising a frame 1 composed of any suitable material. The side and base members of the frame are formed with a groove 2 near the front face and a groove 3 near the backface thereof and the top member is cut out to form a rectangular opening 4. The groove 2 provides a seat for the lower and side edges of a transparent formed of glass treated with a backing material which functions as a refracting surface when there are no light rays in the back thereof, and is a transparent panel when lighted from the back ofthe mirror. The member 5 is insertable through the forward part of the opening 4 in the top member of the frame.

The channel 3 provides a seat for an advertising display element which may be formed, as illustrated in the drawing, of two panes of glass 6 and 7, with an interposed sheet 8 of translucent material, such as paper, cloth, or the like, upon which any suitable advertising matter may be displayed. The glass panes 6 and are preferably secured together by a binding 9 having a finger mirror panel 5,

piece 10 connected therewith so that the advertising display element may be readily inserted and removed through the opening 4 to its position rearward of the panel 5. As shown (Fig. 3) the upper marginal portions of the panes 6 and 7 are held closely against the upper marginal portion of the sheet 8, thus supporting said sheet 8 when the panes are being inserted in and withdrawn from the frame. Moreover, there is a frictional contact of the sheet 8 with the panes 6 and 7 which prevents said sheet 8 from dropping from between the panes when the panes and the interposed sheet 8 are being inserted in and withdrawn from the frame. The binding 9 may be composed of any appropriate flexible material formed in approximately U-shape as shown so as to enclose the upper portions of plates 6 and 7. The binding 9 may be secured to the plates 6 and 7 by any f vhas attached to its bottom wall a support 16 which constitutes a back rest for the device and is so proportioned and arranged as to hold the frame member at a slight inward inclination. The housing is preferably made of sheet metal and is flanged around the edges of the walls thereof, said flange being indicated by the reference numeral 17. The housing is hinged at one side of the frame by hinge mem ers 18 that pass through the vertical marginal edge of the frame member 1. The housing is releasably connected at its opposite side to the frame by any suitable latch device, such, for example, as a fastener 19 supported near the lower corner of the frame and an adjustable hook 20 supported near the upperI corner of the frame. The side flange of the housing seats in the fastener 19 marginal edge of the flange near the upper corner of the housin Thus access may be readily obtained to t e interior of the housing for the adjustment of the illuminating 5 element.

The illuminating element comprises a socket 21 supported on the bottom wall 12 of the housing and a lamp 22 removably supported in the socket. The socket is preferably of the automatically intermittent type so as to produce a flash effect in the lamp 22. The socket is connected with any suitable source of electrical energy by means of a cord 23 passing through a bushing 24 in the bottom wall of the housing. In order to prevent the device from overheating a series of vent openings 25 are provided in the top Wall 13 of the housing.

An advertising device constructed in a-ccordance with the invention possesses a high degree of advertising value, inasmuch as the Hash illumination intermittently displays selected advertising data through the mirror panel which reflects images in the normal way when the illuminating element is not lighted. The device also provides convenient means for changing the advertising data, which is merely printed or displayed in any suitable manner on the translucent member 8 disposed between the glass panes. It will be understood, of course, that, if preferred, the advertising data may be displayed directly upon a single glass panel which may be substituted for the composite panel illustrated in the drawing. By providing the hinged housing convenient access may be obtained to the illuminating element and also access to the rear of the advertising panel to assist in conveniently removing the panel from its seat in the frame.

I am aware that the invention may be modified in certain particulars without departure from the spirit and scope thereof.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is An advertising device comprising base and side frame members having two spaced grooves therein; a frame top member having an elongated opening therethrough communicating with said grooves; a mirror panel having its lower and side edges seated in one of said grooves; an advertising display element having its lower and side edges seated in the other groove and including two glass panes, and an interposed sheet of translucent material; and means securing together the upper edges of said panes and forming a finger-piece for withdrawing said panes through said opening in said frame upper member.

LE ROY W. SMITH. 

